Massage instrument



Feb. 22', 1944. s. R. Ross ETAL MASSAGE INSTRUMENT Filed Oct. 15, 1941 IN V EN TORS SHER/oA/v E. ROSS Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASSAGE IN STRUNIENT Sheridan R. Ross and John Franklin Dare, San Francisco, Calif.

The present invention relates to massage instruments, and particularly to instruments for effecting massage or manipulation of the prostate gland and regions adjacent thereto.

It is the object of this invention to provide an instrument by means of which an individual may treat his own prostate gland by massage or manipulation thereof in a manner which approximates as closely as possible the treatment administered by a doctor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an instrument which resembles the human finger in shape and action, and which may be inserted in the rectum or other body cavity and manipulated exteriorly to elect a massaging action interiorly of such cavity.

Further and more specific objects of the invention and advantages of its construction and use are made apparent in the following specication, wherein reference is made in detail to the accompanying drawing, in which one form of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the massaging portion of the instrument of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in a different position; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the entire instrument.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the instrument comprises a ilnger-like massaging member IU supported on the lower end of a handle II. Pivoted to the handle II by means of a pin I2 is a lever I3, manipulation of which causes the finger ID to l move to and from the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. A pin I4 in the handle II serves as a stop to limit the movement of the lever I3.

The construction of the finger III is best illusn trated in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the lower portion of the vfinger is shown as formed of a rigid hollow post I5, threaded to a socket I6 formed at the lower end of the handle. The upper end of the finger is formed of a tip I1 which is connected to the post I by a pair of links I8 and I9. The link I8 is pivoted to the tip I'I by means of a pin 2l) and to the post I5 by means of a pin 2I. The link I9 is pivoted to the tip I1 by a pin 22 and to the post I 5 by a, pin 23. A rod 24 is pivoted to the link I 9 by a pin 25. The upper end of the rod 24 is bifurcated to receive the link I9 at the point where the pin 25 passes through it. The lower end of the rod 24 passes through the lower end of The rod 24 is provided with a collar 21 adjacent its upper end, and is guided by a nut 28 which is centrally bored slidably to receive the rod, and which is threaded into the lower end of the collar IS. A spring 29 is interposed between the collar 2I and the nut 28, and, being compressed between these two members, normally tends to raise the rod 24 and to retain the links I8 and I9 and the tip I'I in a position aligning with the post I5, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Compression of the lever I3 toward the handle I I swings the lower end of the lever downwardly, which draws the rod 24 downwardly against the tension of the spring 29, thus swinging the link I9 about its pivot 23 and causing the legs I8 and I9 and the tip I1 to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 2, which position is similar to that assumed during massaging action of the human linger. Upon release of the handle the spring returns these members to their original position, so that a natural massaging action may be obtained by alternate compression and release of the handle I3.

The shape of the handle and lever I3 is such that they have a short portion illustrated at 30 in Fig. 3, extending at right angles to the linger I0, and remaining portions sloping upwardly therefrom. Consequently the finger I0 may be inserted in the rectum in a proper position for massage of the prostate gland, with the portion 3D extending forwardly between the legs and the portions of the handle and lever which are grasped to manipulate the finger conveniently positioned for operation by the patient receiving the treatment.

The entire linger, including the post I5, the levers I8, I9, and the tip I1, is preferably encased by a soft resilient material, such, for example, as rubber, shown at 3|, and this tube-like casing is preferably removable to enable the entire device to be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. It is desirable, particularly where the device is being used for treatment of the prostate gland, that the rubber be thickened toward the lower end of the finger-like member to provide a shoulder 32 to limit the distance to which the device may be inserted and thus insure the tip end being positioned in the region of the gland.

The spacing between the pivotal connections 20, 2|, 22 and 23 is preferably such that, upon compression of the lever, the tip Il is swung slightly beyond a line parallel to the post I5, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The exact angle to which the lever I3 and is threaded to receive a nut 26. 55 any of the sections are swung upon manipulation of the lever may, however, be varied to effect the most desirable massaging action.

While the present invention is herein disclosed in a particular form, more or less specically described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for purposes of illustration and that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the several parts shown, all Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described andillustrated my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A massaging instrument comprising a rigid tubular member, a pair of parallel links pivoted thereto, a tip pivoted to said links, a rod extending through said tubular member and pivoted to one of said links at a point to cause swinging of said links about their pivots when the rod is reciprocated, and means for reciprocating said rod to cause angular movement of said links and tip relative to the tubular member.

2. A massaging instrument comprising a rigid tubular member, a pair of parallel links pivoted thereto, a tip pivoted to said links, a rod extending through said tubular member and pivoted to one of said links at a point to cause swinging movement of said links abouttheir pivots When the rod is reciprocated, means for reciprocating said rod to cause angular movement of said links and tip relative to the tubular member, spring means normally holding said links and tip in alignment, and means for reciprocating said rod to eiect such angular movement.

SHERIDAN R. ROSS. JOHN FRANKLIN DARE. 

